It seems there are always people who get that awesome idea that "maybe someone would want to offer their cheap ticket to me if I told my story" before reading further on the board. Apparently it's faster to figure out that "I have reasons why I'd deserve that discount ticket (even more than some others)" than remember that there are also always thousands of other people who'd probably deserve it too, some more than me. If so many people do it I guess it's human. (And I try not to be too embarrassed to know that I partly did the same mistake. Only embarrassed enough to try learn from it.)

Well, I was writing a suggestion about just making a sticky about the board etiquette until I realized that I'm almost doing the same newcomer mistake again... and searched for etiquette-threads first. I found especially this pretty interesting thread: Am I The Ticket Curmudgeon?

I understand that there are problems with a board etiquette sticky (as here thread might suggest) but I have to say that I'm still wondering why there isn't one... Didn't I just find it? If I didn't, am I just blind/stupid or could it possibly be situated somewhere easier for the target group to spot? Or is it better that you'll know in the first place who are ready to read and search the forum before posting _without_ anyone mentioning it in the first ten threads they read? Or is this searching and wondering just what we are supposed to do and find out ourselves? I'm sure it's a great way of learning but then it'll probably cause the frustration in people who have to follow the threads with more and more people going through the same process... or is it then a lesson for the "veterans" to go over their frustration with it?

Used to be in the Community Guidelines, which used to be linked at the bottom of the index page. The guidelines and the TOS didn't make the migration. Spanky has been informed they need to be accessible.

Other than the fact that I don't feel anyone "deserves" a free ticket just because they can't afford one, I pretty much agree with everything else you said. People with hard luck excuses for begging for a free ticket would be better served staying home, reexamining their lives and fixing the situation so that they can afford a ticket next year.

I'd would have liked to have taken a ride on the space shuttle before it was retired, but I didn't have the half mil to do it. So, guess what? I didn't go!

driza wrote:It seems there are always people who get that awesome idea that "maybe someone would want to offer their cheap ticket to me if I told my story" before reading further on the board. Apparently it's faster to figure out that "I have reasons why I'd deserve that discount ticket (even more than some others)" than remember that there are also always thousands of other people who'd probably deserve it too, some more than me. If so many people do it I guess it's human. (And I try not to be too embarrassed to know that I partly did the same mistake. Only embarrassed enough to try learn from it.)

Well, I was writing a suggestion about just making a sticky about the board etiquette until I realized that I'm almost doing the same newcomer mistake again... and searched for etiquette-threads first. I found especially this pretty interesting thread: Am I The Ticket Curmudgeon?

I understand that there are problems with a board etiquette sticky (as here thread might suggest) but I have to say that I'm still wondering why there isn't one... Didn't I just find it? If I didn't, am I just blind/stupid or could it possibly be situated somewhere easier for the target group to spot? Or is it better that you'll know in the first place who are ready to read and search the forum before posting _without_ anyone mentioning it in the first ten threads they read? Or is this searching and wondering just what we are supposed to do and find out ourselves? I'm sure it's a great way of learning but then it'll probably cause the frustration in people who have to follow the threads with more and more people going through the same process... or is it then a lesson for the "veterans" to go over their frustration with it?

What do you think?

JKhttp://www.mudskippercafe.comWhen I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

Other than the fact that I don't feel anyone "deserves" a free ticket just because they can't afford one, I pretty much agree with everything else you said. People with hard luck excuses for begging for a free ticket would be better served staying home, reexamining their lives and fixing the situation so that they can afford a ticket next year.

I'd would have liked to have taken a ride on the space shuttle before it was retired, but I didn't have the half mil to do it. So, guess what? I didn't go!

You are right - just needing money doesn't make anyone deserve things for free. And I think that anyone who really can't afford going at all are not going. The ones who are at the edge of just barely being able to afford it would still be better off to have some back up cash just in case something goes wrong during the trip. But then there are a lot of people who can afford it but the level that it affects their budget varies as well as the idea of what is a reasonable budget. I think by posting "I need a ticket"-thread is a way of saying: "The extra few hundred dollars (or whatever price) would really make a difference in my life and I'd appreciate it even more than some". Not to say it would be any better than using the word "deserve" but it's harder to see that it's still the same idea. The same happens in everyday life too: People always feel they'd need at least a little more money to afford a few more things AND still keep the same level of expenditure in their normal lives. It's easy to see others do it but not as easy to realize it in ourselves (the ones that still struggle with it) because the money struggles really feel real. I don't think expecting or asking to get things for free would be wrong but the best help in the long run would be trying to open their eyes instead of giving money. Most of us even know this but realizing it in every action takes time and practise. Working on it.

I thought the trick was to be happy about having enough money already to survive and even travel. Now I think I'd be even happier remembering to enjoy the fact that I'm able to think and feel that I wouldn't need even that to be happy. I slight but important difference: being happy with the amount of money you have OR being happy about being able to affect the own idea about what is enough. At least made me happy to remember it again! Let's see if I'll remember it next time I can't afford to do something that I'd want. "Cooler than getting that experience is that I don't even need it."